Morecambe man had more than 6,000 indecent images of children on PC

Steven Watt.

A Morecambe man who kept more than 6,000 indecent images of children on his PC has been jailed.

Steven Watt, 36, was arrested in January after concerns were raised about material in his possession.

Police found a significant number of images, of varying degrees of indecency, on his computer and on DVDs seized from his Ashton Road home.

Watt, who has worked in schools and colleges in both Lancashire and Cumbria and who was involved in the local and regional Boys Brigade, pleaded guilty at Lancaster Magistrates Court to making and possessing indecent images of children.

Appearing at Preston Crown Court on Monday Watt was sentenced to six months in prison, with a further six months on licence.

He was disqualified from working with children, was put on the sex offenders register and a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) was put in place.

Detective Constable Mark Greaves, Lancaster police, said: “Watt had contact with children both through his employment and his recreational activities and it is disturbing that he had such a large number of indecent images of youngsters in his possession.

“He is now behind bars, but the ban on working with children and the SOPO will also ensure that controls are in place once he is released to make sure he is not a threat to our community.”